THE AMAZON BASIN

 

I was surprised to find

My wife was interested

In the Amazon Basin

But it turned out to be a fad

As she became disinterested

When it arrived broken

ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – LOST HORIZON (1937)

 

“Lost Horizon” is a fantasy adventure drama based on the book by James Hilton and Directed by Frank Capra.

World weary British diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman) and a small group of civilians crash land their plane in the Himalayas, and are rescued by the people of the mysterious, Eden-like valley of Shangri-la, a place of eternal youth, natural beauty, and free from strife, where the lush green valley is protected by the mountains that surround it from the harshness of the weather and the wider world outside, where the clouds of World War II are gathering.

They are greeted by Chang (H.B. Warner) and are treated as guests, and Robert also meets another resident, Sondra (Jane Wyatt) who he grows close to, but one day Conway is invited to meet the spiritual leader the High Lama (Sam Jaffe) and enlightened as to the truth about the valley which affects him profoundly.

Conway wants to stay and feels that he is meant to be there, but some of the group, including his brother George (John Howard), want to leave and find their way back to the world as they know it, but porters to guide them are hard to find.

So will Robert be drawn by duty and family ties to help his brother or follow his heart and stay with Sonja in Shangri-La.

 

There is something special about classic films made before the days of computer generated visual effects, a time when movies depended on great stories, great performances and great direction to make a memorable film, and that is definitely the case with “Lost Horizon”.

THE WISDOM OF OLD AGE # 9

 

I have discovered that whenever

I have to come to a determination

And I decide something with kindness

I undoubtedly make the right decision

BEST BEFORE 1980 # 8

 

It’s true to say as you get older

Your youth you possible may regain

For someday you will be old enough

To start reading fairy tales again

I KNOW I’M GETTING OLD # 2

 

You know you’re getting old

When you start to curse and mutter

After realizing you spread face cream

On your bread instead of butter

AT MY ADVANCED AGE # 4

 

At my advanced age

I don’t worry too much about

Avoiding temptation

It will avoid me without doubt

I ONCE KNEW A GIRL CALLED JO # 4

 

I once knew a girl called Jo

Jo with the all over tan

Jo Jo the Can Can

The perfect gift for a man

Who had a beautiful

White toothed smile